Citation: Min Chen, Yu Zhou, Peng Rao, Xinlong Tian, Ruisong Li, Jing Li, Zhengpei Miao. Interface−morphology synergy in TiN nanotube−supported Pt catalyst layers enables durable proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(4): 111899. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111899 shu

Interface−morphology synergy in TiN nanotube−supported Pt catalyst layers enables durable proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells

Min Chen ^{a, 1} ,
Yu Zhou ^{a, 1} ,
Peng Rao ^a ,
Xinlong Tian ^a ,
Ruisong Li ^{a, *,} ,
Jing Li ^{a, *,} ,
Zhengpei Miao ^{a, b, *,}

a.
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Tropic Ocean Engineering Materials and Materials Evaluation, Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Fine Chemistry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
b.
Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 3000071, China

lrs0809@hainanu.edu.cn

jli@hainanu.edu.cn

zpmiao92@hainanu.edu.cn

Received Date: 14 August 2025
Revised Date: 12 September 2025
Accepted Date: 24 September 2025
Available Online: 25 September 2025

Figures(4)

The stability of cathode catalyst layers (CCLs) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is critically undermined by Pt dissolution and the loss of effective gas-water management associated with carbon support corrosion. In this work, we develop a porous TiN nanotube−supported Pt (i.e., Pt/TiN NTs) CCL that integrates robust Pt–Ti interfacial bonding with a highly accessible nanotube network to address these persistent challenges. The formation of abundant Pt–Ti bonds at the interface markedly strengthens Pt anchoring, resulting in a 2.3−fold reduction in Pt dissolution and minimal particle coarsening after accelerated durability testing compared to nanoflows-based controls dominated by Pt–N−Ti interactions. The membrane electrode assembly fabricated with this CCL achieves a peak power density of 0.81 W/cm² and demonstrates exceptional durability, retaining 77% of its initial mass activity and 87.3% of its power density following aggressive square-wave potential cycling, meeting the 2025 U.S. Department of Energy benchmarks. Computational fluid dynamics simulation further reveal that the unique porous architecture facilitates efficient oxygen transport and rapid water removal, sustaining high catalytic utilization under operational conditions. This strategy establishes TiN NTs scaffolds as a generalizable solution for the next generation of carbon-free, high-stability catalyst layers, offering practical guidance for durable and efficient fuel cell design.
- Proton exchange membrane fuel cells,
- Cathode catalyst layer,
- Electron interaction,
- Water management,
- Oxygen transport,
- Stability
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